Website interactive doll

ABSTRACT

A doll is computer interactive and can be connected to their siblings through a website on the internet for children to communicate with each other. The dolls can be produced with a certain number of siblings, where the siblings can be identified through a coding mechanism, such as a colored ribbon, a code number or letter, or the like. The siblings can be distributed throughout the country or throughout the world, not only providing interaction between children and their dolls, but also providing an opportunity to learn of other regions of the world and even other cultures.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to dolls and, more particularly, to dolls that are computer interactive.

Children often play with dolls and may acquire more than one doll to create a pretend family within their dolls. With this type of play, however, there is no other interaction, except between the child and their dolls.

Many children today interact with other children less than in the past due to safety concerns, time constraints of the parents and the like. Social interaction, however, is often helpful for a child's social development.

As can be seen, there is a need for a method and device to allow children to play and interact with one another, even when within their own home.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, an interactive doll system comprises a plurality of dolls; an identification marker on each of the plurality of dolls, the identification marker identifying siblings among the plurality of dolls; a website operable for a user to register their dolls; and a communication system within the website to permit users of the plurality of dolls to interact.

In another aspect of the present invention, a method for encouraging interaction among children comprises providing a plurality of dolls to a plurality of children, the dolls including an identification marker to identify dolls that are siblings; permitting users to register their doll on a website; and providing a communication system for the children to communicate among other children having dolls that are siblings.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a flow chart describing use of an interactive doll according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention provides a doll that is computer interactive and can be connected to their siblings through a website on the internet for the dolls and the children to communicate with each other. The dolls can be produced with a certain number of siblings, where the siblings can be identified through a coding mechanism, such as a colored ribbon, a code number or letter, or the like. The siblings can be distributed throughout the country or throughout the world, not only providing interaction between children and their dolls, but also providing an opportunity to learn of other regions of the world and even other cultures.

Referring now to FIG. 1, an interactive doll 10 can be acquired by a user. The user can register on a website to register their doll and provide an identification feature of the doll, such as a belly button bow 12. The identification feature can be various features, such as the bow 12, an alpha-numeric code, a cartoon character, or the like. This identification feature can be provided on the website and the website can inter-link the doll 10 with its brothers 14 and sisters 16.

Once registered, other registered siblings 14, 16 will receive a notification that their sister (interactive doll 10) is now part of the family. The user of the interactive doll 10 may also receive a notification of the other registered users that have the doll's brothers 14 and sisters 16. The website can provide various means for the user of the interactive doll 10, and the users of the brothers 14 and sisters 16, to communicate. These means can include online chat, email, picture sharing, and the like. The website can include various security features to help ensure appropriate users are on the system. The website could include a logging feature where parents can review any interactions between their child and other users.

The website could include other features where the interactive doll 10 can also find friends outside of their family to include as users that they may be able to interact. For example, if a user purchases the doll 10 and the user's friend purchases another interactive doll that may be part of another family, these two users could arrange for their dolls to be friends, allowing them to still interact through the website.

The website could permit other relationships to be established. This could provide both a learning experience for the child as well as expand their possible other users they can communicate with. For example, if the users are the doll's parents, and the user's sibling has a doll belonging to a different family, the dolls may be able to register as cousins of each other, further expanding the family circle.

Any number of dolls may be distributed as part of the same family. Typically, from about 10 to about 50 dolls can be produced in each family, often about 25 dolls can be produced in each family. The dolls may be available for purchase as known family members (for example, a purchaser could purchase 2 or more dolls of the same family), or the dolls may be randomly available, where children would not be sure who is part of their family.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An interactive doll system comprising: a plurality of dolls; an identification marker on each of the plurality of dolls, the identification marker identifying siblings among the plurality of dolls; a website operable for a user to register their dolls; and a communication system within the website to permit users of the plurality of dolls to interact.
 2. The interactive doll system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of dolls includes multiple families of dolls, each family having from about 10 to about 50 siblings.
 3. The interactive doll system of claim 1, wherein the communication system links users having dolls that are siblings.
 4. The interactive doll system of claim 1, wherein the communication system links users having dolls that are friends.
 5. The interactive doll system of claim 1, wherein the identification marker is a coded belly button ribbon.
 6. The interactive doll system of claim 5, wherein the coded belly button ribbon is a color-coded belly button ribbon.
 7. A method for encouraging interaction among children, the method comprising: providing a plurality of dolls to a plurality of children, the dolls including an identification marker to identify dolls that are siblings; permitting users to register their doll on a website; and providing a communication system for the children to communicate among other children having dolls that are siblings.
 8. The method of claim 7, wherein the plurality of dolls includes multiple families of dolls, each family having from about 10 to about 50 siblings.
 9. The method of claim 7, wherein the identification marker is a coded belly button ribbon.
 10. The method of claim 9, wherein the coded belly button ribbon is a color-coded belly button ribbon. 